I truly believe that Social Learning theories are excellent tools for the classroom. I put it in use as much as is possible. This year we use blogging and small cooperative groups often. I have future plans for group multimedia projects such as Flipvideo camera productions and, now that I've learned them myself, voicethreads.
There's a part of me that thinks that the ultimate benefit of social learning occurs most in the higher grades. It's not that I don't think it isn't valuable in third grade, it is. However, the Social learning must be very controlled. While I have some students who are fully capable of practicing self control, the truth is, most are not. Using technology in such situations may be chaotic, not to mention expensive. I almost think that the job of the lower grade teachers is to introduce the Social Learning in bits with the ultimate goal of having students able to fully participate and benefit by 5th grade and up. My 4th graders were capable, but again, only in small doses. This school year has been challenging, and my hope is that I can get my 3rd graders involved in more small groups as maturity allows.
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Tonya,
ReplyDeleteYou make a great point that the younger grades may not be developmentally ready for social learning on a large scale. Teaching second grade was a little bit of a shock for me after I moved from fourth. What I have found is they require a lot of time to prepare for group work. They need clear expectations as well as the tools to know what to do in certain situations that often arise in small groups. You are right, us younger grades teachers need to set the ground work for the older grades. The more we use it, the earlier they learn those collaborative learning skills.
Going from 4/5 to third was also a shock for me. It's amazing, really, at how much maturity takes place between 3rd and 4th grade. I think if each grade level uses a little more of the group work and builds upon each other, it will be much more successful in the long run than trying to pile it on all at once.
ReplyDeleteI am a 5th grade teacher and while I have to establish the ground rules for the implementation of social learning practices, I welcome students who have had positive group experiences in the past. I believe there is a gradual release of responsibility as you move up the grade levels, but even the younger students are capable of sharing experiences, learning from each and creating group work products.
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